A much-missed medical centre might reopen after it closed in March amid anger and controversy in the town it served.

The Bodmin Treatment Centre on Boundary Road closed its doors to patients on March 31. It was one of the last health facilities in the town, as Bodmin Hospital mainly deals with mental health and minor injuries.

When the private centre opened in 2006, its aim was to speed up treatment for local people and take pressure of the Royal Cornwall Hospital (RCH) in Truro.

However, eleven years and more than 100,000 patients later, NHS Kernow and Ramsay Healthcare, the company running the facility, failed to come to an agreement to renew their contract and keep the centre going.

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At the time, Ruth Petherick shared her thoughts on the Cornwall Live Facebook page, saying: “What a loss, had two cataracts done there last year, excellent surgeon, the nurses down to the receptionist were all caring and pleasant. Plus from Bude the journey was less than Barnstaple or Plymouth.

"It will be sadly missed by many in this area.”

Locals also complained that there was not enough local consultation over the closure or enough effort by the NHS to find ways to keep it open.

Now it appears that there are talks taking place aimed at reopen the treatment centre.

Former patients now have to go to Bodmin Hospital, Treliske or Derriford in Plymouth (Image: Google Street View)

Cornwall Councillor Colin Martin, vice chairman of the health scrutiny committee at County Hall, said NHS Kernow was trying to find solutions.

"I met with NHS Kernow on Friday," he said. " They are considering options to bring Bodmin Treatment Centre back into use.

"They are currently shaping our future health service, reviewing everything, and are working towards filling the gap in Bodmin."

It could be some time, however, before the centre reopens if the NHS finds a solution.

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"The review will probably take another six to ten months," Councillor Martin said. "NHS Kernow needs to define the needs in Cornwall before opening anything, so it would be difficult to start with another provider."

He added that it could take more than twelve months before the treatment centre could reopen.

He said: "It is a difficult time, but we need more services, which are closer to people's homes. It would be good for everybody, as it would mean less pressure for Truro, cheaper services and less transport."

More information on the review will be available within the next couple of weeks.